In
1702, Lord Asano of Akô was provoked by KiraKozukenosukeYoshinaka into drawing his sword in the shogun’s palace, for
which he was forced to take his own life, and his estate was confiscated.Forty-seven of Lord Asano’s
retainers, who were now rônin (samurai without masters), planned and
carried out a successful attack on Kira’s palace.Kira’s head was cut
off with the same dagger Lord Asano used to commit seppuku.(The term “hara-kiri”, although more common in
English than “seppuku”, is considered
in Japan to be a vulgar and disrespectful description of an
honorable act.).The 46 surviving rônin were forced to take their own
lives.These events were made into the
play, ‘Kanadehon Chûshingura’.This
series of prints portrays some of the 47 rônin.The prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36
by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

No image available

Samurai: Fifty-five year old Hara GôemonMototoki crouching with an eager expression

Publisher:

Robinson:
S80.1

No image available

Samurai: Thirty-three year old TomimoriSukeemonMasakata seated
with a spear

Publisher:

Robinson:
S80.2

Samurai:
Thirty-one year old TakebayashiSadashichiTakashige (武林定七隆重), the historical TakebayashiTadashichiTakashige,seated with a spear

Publisher:
Mita-yaKihachi

Robinson:
S80.3

Samurai:
Thirty-six year old KataokaDengoemonTakafusa (片岡傳五右衛門高房) feeling the edge of his sword

Publisher:
Yamaguchi-yaTôbei

Robinson:
S80.4

Samurai:
Thirty-six year old Mimura JiroemonKanetsune (三村路良左衛門包常) seated with a spear

Publisher:
Yamaguchi-yaTôbei

Robinson:
S80.5

Samurai:
Seventy-one year old OribeYaheiKanamaru (織部矢兵衛金丸), the historical HoribeYaheiKanamaru, seated holding
his helmet

Publisher:
Yamaguchi-yaTôbei

Robinson:
S80.6

No image available

Samurai:
Twenty-three year old Katsuta ShinemonTaketaka standing with drawn sword

Publisher:

Robinson:
S80.7

Samurai:
Twenty-eight year old YadaGorozaemonSuketake (矢田呉郎右衛門助武) standing with his hand on his sword